either do or die

verb

To act with sufficient urgency to result in either immediate success or immediate failure.

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Meanings

verbeither do or die (third-person singular simple present either does or dies, present participle either doing or dying, simple past either did or died, past participle either done or died)

present singular third person either does or dies · participle present either doing or dying · past either did or died · participle past either done or died · alternative do or die

  1. idiomaticTo act with sufficient urgency to result in either immediate success or immediate failure.

    Emanuel: Bless us, dear Fortune! / Armusia: Let us be worthy of it in our courage, and Fortune must befriend us. Come, all sever; but keep still within sight: when the flame rises let's meet, and either do or die.

    1621 (first literary attestation), John Fletcher, The Island Princess act 2.scene 2

Origin

An ultimatory verbal phrase composed of the words: either, do, or, and die.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

either do or die. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/either%20do%20or%20die

MLA

“either do or die.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/either%20do%20or%20die. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “either do or die,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/either%20do%20or%20die.

Source: either do or die on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.